Adjustable violin shoulder-support.



V M. MEIER.

ADJUSTABLE VIOLIN SHOULDER SUPPORT.

APPLILATION FILED MAI-1.19, l9l8.

Patented Mar. 11, 1919.

A TTORNE Y.

MARCEL MEEIER, .OF .LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

ADJUSTABLE VIOLIN SHOULDER-SUPPORT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 11, 1919.

Application filed'March 19, 1918. SerialNo. 223,426.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Mancini MEIER, a citizen of the United States, residing'at Los Angeles, in the county, of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a newand useful Adjustable Violin Shoulder-Support, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a violin support and its object is to provide an attachment for a violin whereby the latter may be readily supported between the chin and shoulder of the player without cramping the neck muscles and in such manner as to permit freedom of movement and facilitate technic of the left hand.

Another object is to provide a violin support which may be detachably connected to a violin and held in place thereon by means of the ordinary chin rest and which may be adjusted either before or after attachment to vary the position of the support portion relative to the violin so as to adapt it to the shoulder of the player and insure correct positioning of the instrument in playing.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the violin support as removed.

Fig. 2 is an endview of same showing it as applied and illustrating the manner of attaching it to a violin by means of the chin rest.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a violin illustrating the invention as applied.

In carrying out the invention the support is formed with a curved attachment band 5 adapted to lie against the end face of a violin and to be interposed between the violin 6 and turn-buckles 7 by which the ordinary chin rest 8 is attached to the violin; the turn'buckles bearing against the attachment band 5 to hold the latter in place. As a means for effecting a clamping action by the turn-buckles on. the attachment band, the latter is formed with a bend 9 and an ofiset end portion 10, and is provided with a hearing plate 11 on the end opposite the oii'set portion 10. The intermediate portion of the band is thus bowed outwardly spring fashion so that when this bowed portion is interposed between the violin and the turnbuckles with the latter pressing thereagainst tending to flatten same, a clamping action is obtained.

Connecting with the bowed portion of the attachment plate is a substantially \I-shap ed bracket 12 which extends downwardly from the band thence upwardly and terminates in a padded outer end 13 adapted to bear againstthe under side or back of the'vio-l'in at a point remote from its edge. A resilient pad 1a is disposed at the juncture of the side portions With the bracket, which pad is positioned to rest against the shoulder of the player.

As a means for varying the position of the pad 1e relative to the violin so as to raise or lower it to suit the shoulder of the player means are provided for spreading the side members of the bracket apart or to draw them together. This means comprises a pair of tangs 15 struck from the side members of the bracket and extending toward each other. The tangs 15 have parallel flanges 16 on their outer ends through which a threaded stem 17 passes. A knurled nut 18 is screwed on the stem and is adapted to be advanced or retracted thereon so as to draw the side members of the bracket together or permit them to spread apart.

In the application of the support it is positioned on the violin with the band 5 engaged by the turn-buckles 7, of the chin rest and with the pad 13 hearing against the violin back, as shown in Fig. 3. This disposes the shoulder pad 141 in proper relation to the violin back and in a firm position by reason of the brace afforded by the spreading side members or" the V-shaped bracket 12 and their adjustable connection.

The pad 14: upon the bracket 12 provides a firm non-slipping support for the violin when the latter is interposed between the shoulder and chin and pressure brought to bear on the chin rest and insures the instrument being held in the correct position for playing. This permits the violin being held without the aid of the left hand and leaves the hand free for fingering without supporting the violin, thus facilitating technic.

As a means for adjusting the bracket 12' relative to the band 5, the bracket is attached to the band 5 by means of the pivotal connection, comprising the threaded stud 19, on the band 5 which passes through the bracket, and is fitted with a nut 20, by means of Which the bracket and strap may be clamped together, and disposed at various angular positions relative to each other, as occasion may require.

I claim:

1. The combination with a violin and a chin rest thereon, of a shoulder support, said shoulder support comprising an attachment member held in place on the violin by the chin rest, a \i-shaped dependent bracket on said attachment member adapted to seat on the shoulder of a player, and means for or spreading or contracting the side members of the bracket.

2. The combination With a violin and a chin rest thereon, of a shoulder support, said shoulder support comprising an attachment member held in place on the violin by the chin rest, a V-shaped dependent bracket on said attachment member adapted to seat on the shoulder of a player, and a non-slip pad arranged at the juncture of the side mem bers of said bracket.

3. The combination with a violin and a chin rest thereon, of a shoulder support, said shoulder support comprising an attachment member held in place on the violin by the chin rest, a V-shaped dependent bracket on said attachment member adapted to seat on the shoulder of a player, a non-slip pad arranged at the juncture of the side members of said bracket, and means for adjusting the angle between the side members of the bracket.

MAROEL MEIER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

